Friday, May 29, 2009

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Well, the good news is that God is in control and I am not! (Aren't you glad?) :)

The bad news is that we will not going to be going to South Dakota this year to work on the Pine Ridge Reservation. There were several factors involved, but needless to say funding was one of them. But, God is good and I know that whether or not we are there, the Lakotas will be served well by John Lovelace's mission team.

Jacob got his stitches out on Friday, but still may not actively move his hand for 12 weeks from his injury date, which means he is pretty much incapacitated for his entire summer. I feel so badly for him, but once again I am looking for God's providence in this situation and I know that, once again, there is a purpose in this happening.

We had a great time at my GREAT-nephew's birthday party yesterday and hopefully I can get some pics posted soon. Love to all! Melissa

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Pine Ridge 2009





I have had several people ask me how they can contribute to our mission trip again this year. We are going to have to raise around $1500 this year for our entire family to go. If you feel led to contribute, please send a check to:


Winchester Cumberland Presbyterian Church

200 2nd Avenue NW

Winchester, Tennessee 37398


Notate "Brown Mission Trip" on your check so that you can receive credit on your taxes. Thanks again to everyone who wants to help out again this year!




Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Well, I have misplaced my camera sometime within the last week and haven't had a chance to get any pics of the kids recently. Mother's Day was good and I wish I had some pics to show you. Chris took the kids fishing and I stayed at home and worked on the house (which is what I wanted to do, believe it or not). Then we all sat down and watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Very sad and strange movie. Good, but sad. The school year is coming to a close and we are VERY busy getting projects done and fields trips taken, etc. Keeping up with it all while working two (sometimes three) jobs and trying to sell the house is a little tiring to say the least, but such is life and I know I am blessed. Just gotta keep on keeping on! With that in mind I thought I would share this devotional I received this morning via email - enjoy.....

The Snare of Fear

Proverbs 29:25 tells us, The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

A snare is a noose used for catching an animal. Fear will cause you to be snared or trapped, just like an animal. I have a friend in the church who has a very large nut tree in his yard, which the squirrels regularly raid. He put this big net over the tree, but it did not seem to deter the squirrels at all. So he finally got a trap and set it up on the roof right next to the nut tree. To date, he has caught about 120 squirrels. When the squirrel is in the trap, it is totally at his mercy. It can't go anywhere. He happens to be a fairly merciful gentleman, so he takes them over to a local park and lets them go. When fear gets a hold of your life, you become like one of those trapped squirrels--you are not going anywhere. You are at its mercy. You will not progress spiritually. It keeps you bound. The fear of man can keep you from obeying God; it will keep you from pleasing God. It will keep you from the joy you would experience when you trust God. In fact, there is a contrast in our verse today. The man or woman who is bound by the fear of man, will not be trusting God in some area of his life. Look at the two parts of the verse together: The fear of man brings a snare, but... in contrast ...whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.Do not allow the fear of man to control your life. Instead, trust in the Lord.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Yard Sale!

My sister and I are having a yard sale tomorrow rain or shine!

406 Third Avenue NW
Winchester, TN 37398

C-ya there!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Update from the front lines.


Drama of the week: Monday - Jacob wakes up with 102 temp. We spend the entire day at the E.R. and then Vandy Hand Clinic. Tuesday - Mom has minor nervous breakdown - no biggie. Wednesday - mom is on the verge of full-fledged nervous breakdown. Our house is officially on the market and have a ton of work to do on it along with trying to keep it clean. Jacob starts hand therapy today that I have no idea how I am going to get him to and Chris is out of town. God never gives us more than we can handle, right? RIGHT???


Oh and I am having a yard sale on Saturday. :)